World Folklore Day
More than 50 years have passed since the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared a global celebration day for folklore. On this date, homage is paid to the different artistic and cultural expressions of peoples from around the world, without exception, on the designated World Folklore Day.
A bit of history
Why was this date chosen to commemorate World Folklore Day? Well, the answer is quite simple and precise: August 22, 1846, marked the first time the term folklore was used in an open publication for society. British archaeologist William John Thoms used this term in a letter published in the London magazine Atheneum.
In that letter, Thoms described folklore as an authentic expression of a people or ethnicity in which their traditions, customs, dances, music, and legends, among others, could distinguish them from other cultures. These were the peculiarities used to distinguish peoples, which is why he used the terms folk and lore (meaning people and knowledge in English) to refer to these ancestral and millenary manifestations that are passed down from generation to generation.
In Inca lands, there are thousands of ancestral traditions that connect today with ancient Peru. Credit: Yayo López / PromPerú.
In Peru
In Inca lands, there are thousands of ancestral traditions that connect the present with ancient Peru. However, the cultural expressions related to dances and music are the ones that take place the most during these dates. That is why, on this day, various cultural organizations that promote the original dances of Peru rehearse their steps in festivals held in various parts of the coast, Andes and Amazon.
Parades and musical performances are carried out in different parts of Peru to celebrate the cultural diversity present in the Inca country. However, these are not the only activities performed during this day of celebration: you can also enjoy band contests, sale of crafts and textiles in fairs created for the World Folklore Day.
Furthermore, the native food fairs are an initiative adopted due to the popularity of the gastronomic boom, there you can find and taste dishes from different localities in one place, with their unique and indescribable flavors.
Sources: Educared / BBVA Foundation
Credit: Alex Bryce / PromPerúRecommendations:
- Take the opportunity to explore the surrounding areas of the destination you are visiting.
- Try the delicious local gastronomy if you travel to other regions.
General information
Essentials:
Comfortable clothing for walking, a photographic camera and cash.
